“To an unenlightened soul, harmful words are like letters carved in stone. As we progress, the words are written in sand. Still farther along, they are written with a stick in water. Finally, the words are written in the air.” Zen saying.

The language we use influences our thoughts and actions and has the potency to inspire or to harm. It can build confidence or it can take away one’s dignity and self-esteem.

There are many reasons why we choose words to express our point of view or emotions. Sometimes we use words to:

Can you remember a time when you met someone that you simply cannot forget?

Hаvе уоu еvеr wоndеrеd what made them so memorable to you? What makes their presence so electric? Why do we gravitate and support their cause and passion? What makes their energy so addictive to the point that we all want to just help them even before they ask?

Here is the secret to their presence. They are not “networking”. When they meet you, they are genuinely interested in your present story and think of ways that they can be of service to you, even if it means the simple temporary act of making you feel relaxed and lifting your spirits. These unforgettable individuals emulate a “giving” mindset.

We all have the capacity to fulfill our desires by setting an intention for what we want and then living our lives as though we had already achieved what we have asked for. The power of setting an intention is undeniable because we set ourselves to succeed by using a compass instead of going on a journey without a roadmap.

...If Peter had not had the desire for success and the courage to take action, he would not have manifested the outcome he had always envisioned. He imagined who he wanted to be and acted accordingly from the beginning.

There are so many different types of distractions all around us. It is very hard not to get sucked in. Distractions throw a curveball that can interrupt our routines and dampen our resolve. It makes it hard to implement our plans in a timely manner. There are many different types of distractions surrounding us. At times, it can be tremendously hard not to get sucked in. Distractions throw us a curveball that can interrupt our routines and dampen our resolve making it hard to implement our plans in a timely manner.

Personal leadership is the fundamental aspect of leadership. It is based on the fact that knowing yourself leads to greater ability to lead others.

The art of personal leadership is far from blaming and control. It is all about awareness, choice, and action. I love Harry Potter movies, especially the dialogue between Dumbledore and Harry Potter. In one of the Harry Potter movies, Dumbledore tells Harry:

“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities”

We all have one very important obligation towards ourselves and that is to honor who we truly are.

Many times I have said yes when I meant no because I did not want to hurt others or disappoint them. But as time passed by, I realized when we do something that is contrary to what we believe or want, not only do we disrespect ourselves but we also disrespect everyone involved. The truth is when we don’t stand up for what we believe; we will not be able to stand up for anyone else. When we don’t honor ourselves, we cannot truly honor anyone else.

Yesterday, January 15th, 2018 we celebrated the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Not many people know that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “dream speech” did not originally contain the transformative phrase “I have a dream.” When he was delivering his speech, an extraordinary thing happened. As King looked up at the audience in the middle of his speech, he heard Mahalia Jackson, a gospel singer and a good friend, shouted: “tell ‘em about the ‘dream.” That’s when Dr. King pushed the prepared speech to the side and improvised and included the famous “I have a dream” phrase in his speech. After that moment he hardly looked at his speech. The words came from his heart.